'SNL': Russell Crowe Plays a Hologram, Al Sharpton Stops By

Russell Crowe hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time April 9, where he played a series of serious roles in order to display his comedy chops.

During his monologue, the Nice Guys star said that "his beautiful young co-star" Ryan Gosling inspired him to host: "I thought, 'Wow, anyone can do that.'"

He also backed up his comedic acting skills, referencing some of his past comedic performances, jokingly showing clips of A Beautiful Mind and Les Miserables.

The episode of SNL kicked off with another political-themed cold open, with Kate McKinnon starring as Hillary Clinton in a pandering speech to New Yorkers after her recent primary losses. Wearing a Yankees hat, she tried to relate to New York voters about the "Fat Apple" and seeing "that hot new show that's got all of NYC abuzz: Chicago!"

"And to all you young people in New York, let me say this. Voting's for nerds. I mean, who cares? Just sleep in." She wasn't even intimidated by the bird that recently landed on Bernie Sanders' podium because she has her own winged partner: the three-eyed raven from Game of Thrones.

Crowe starred in several roles as the straight man, including a German professor in a dating game sketch and a hologram version of Henry VIII. As the infamous king, Crowe answered historical questions by museum visitors, but he got distracted by the visiting women who he wanted as wives.

In 100 Days in the Jungle, Crowe appeared as a contestant's uncle's friend Terry, the wacky guy who "used to live in a tent in your uncle's backyard," who visited because his parents "had a thing." Later, he starred as a Russian bad guy in a bit opposite Leslie Jones as a ninja.

And lastly, SNL writer Mike O'Brien starred as another strong character in Oprah Winfrey: A Life of Love. He also previously starred as Jay Z in a similar digital sketch. SNL veteran Jason Sudeikis even joined him for the re-enactment of Oprah's film The Color Purple.

Crowe stars next with Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys, which hits theaters May 20.